Explosive compound.



sheets of suitable HlIDSON MAXIM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EXPLO SIVE COMPOUND.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 7. 1904.

Patented Mar. 8, 1910. SeriaI NO 221.555.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it knowncitizen of the United States, resid borough of Brooklyn, city of i\ew York. county of Kings, and State of New'York. have invented ment in Explosive Compounds, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to improvements in solvents of pyroxylin, and has especial reference to the manufacture of smokeless gunpowder.

The object of the invention is mainly to provide a non-volatile solvent of pyroxylin', solid at ordinary temperatures, by which its gelatinization may be readily efi'ected and an amorphous colloid formed adapted to use as a smokeless powder without drying after granulation, and a solvent which shall contain within itself, in conjunction. with the oxygen contained in the pyroxylin, suflicient oxygen for its own -con1bustion into gaseous products when combined with p roxylin in such a proportion as will be suflicient. to effectually gelatinate the same. I have found tri-nitranisol, that is to say, trinitro-methyl-phenol, to be such'a non-volatile solvent of pyroxylin, and which is'a. solid at ordinary temperatures.

In carrying out the invention the tri-nitranisol and the pyroxylin are commingled and thoroughly incorporated, .preferably between incorporating rolls, the rolls being maintainedata slightly elevated tem era-- lure, to facilitate theincorporation o the ingredients and the gelatinization of the .pyroxyl'in, the rolling process being continued until an amorphous-colloid 1s produced, whichthen, while warm, is rolled into thickness and cut into a new and useful Improvethat I, HUDSON MAXIM, a guns,

mg at the grains of suitable size and shape for use-in and which are ready for use immediately without any further treatment. The percentages preferably used are from 40 to per cent. of tri-nitranisol, to form 50 to per cent. of pyroxylin. As tri-nitranisol is a powerful solvent of all grades of pyroxylin. it is not necessary to specify any particular variety although I prefer to use pyro-nitrocellulose having the composition expressed by the chemical formula 3..H.-=3( 2)1- 2;-

'hat is claimed is 4 l. A smokeless powder of the. character described containing intro-cellulose and trinitroanisol.

2. An explosive consisting of a gelatinated compound of pyroxylin and trinitranisol.

3. The process of making smokeless gu u- I powder consisting cellulose and tri-nitranisol the materials to heat. l. The process of making smokeless gunpowder consisting in incorporating pyronitro-cellulose and an while subjecting the materials to heat.

5. An explosive consisting of an amorphous colloid of pyro-nitro-cellulose' and tri-nitranisol.

An explosive of the character scribecL- consisting of a colloidof'nitro-cellulose and an ester of picric acid.

' In testimony whereof I have'signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUDSO) MAXIM.

\Vitnsses LILI'AN MAXIM, J. FRANK BEST.

ester of picric. acid in incorporating nitrowhile sub ectlng' 

